What is Accent Discrimination?
Accent discrimination occurs when an employer discriminates against certain individuals because of their strong accents. However, a caveat to the rule against accent discrimination is that an employer may not discriminate based on a person's accent if the accent doesn't materially interfere with their job performance. Therefore, whether accent discrimination has occurred depends on the duties and tasks assigned to an employee.
What Types of Positions Might be Exempt?
Employers that have employees in the following positions might have grounds for dismissing an employee because of a strong accent. These include:- Teaching
- Customer Service
- Telemarketing
However, these positions must still be evaluated to determine whether an employee is not capable of performing their job.
What Steps Should I Take?
An employee that feels they have been discriminated against based on accent discrimination has several options available. These include:- Filing a charge of discrimination with the EEOC
- Charges should be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination
- In addition, the EEOC has a toll free hotline at 1-800-669-4000 that allows individuals that don't have an EEOC office nearby to request assistance
Should I Consult an Attorney?
An experienced attorney in employment discrimination can be extremely valuable in assisting any employee in accent discrimination issues. The filing of a complaint and gathering of relevant evidence requires an attorney with experience. In addition, an experienced attorney can help to guide employees in any settlement arrangements. |
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